title: The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in African refugee children resettled in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and associated epidemiological features of Helicobacter pylori infection in child refugees in Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 193 eligible African refugee children (aged < 16 years) at their initial health assessment after resettlement in Australia between 1 February and 30 November 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  (i) Prevalence of H. pylori infection determined by monoclonal faecal antigen enzyme immunoassay testing (MFAT); (ii) associations of H. pylori infection with epidemiological factors (age, sex, transit through refugee camps, comorbidities and treatment interventions).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MFAT was performed in 182 of the 193 children; 149 of these 182 (82%) had H. pylori infection. Age was an independent predictor of H. pylori infection (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.31). No sex differences were observed. Premigration antimalarial therapy (with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and artesunate) significantly reduced the prevalence of H. pylori infection (age-adjusted OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African refugee children have a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. Increasing age is a strong predictor of infection and antimalarial treatment may have a protective effect.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanfilippo
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial